Indigenous

Governor General of Canada Mary Simon speaks during a visit to Bernard Constant Community School at James Smith Cree Nation, Sask., on Wednesday, September 28, 2022. Simon is using her role to help build ties between Indigenous people across the globe — an effort experts say is leveraging a colonial institution to advance reconciliation abroad and bolster centuries of collaboration. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon champions Indigenous diplomacy, seeks new ties abroad

Simon has ability to create shared space for international communities rebuilding from colonialism

 

The 10 MW Awasis solar project which opened in November is seen on the Cowessess First Nation in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Cowessess First Nation

Indigenous communities leading Canada’s clean energy boom

Communities play a role in almost 20 per cent of Canada’s electricity generating infrastructure

 

Christina Spence-Proteau of Port Alberni takes a shot during the final round of the 2019 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur & Senior Championship at Osoyoos Golf Club. (Chuck Russell/Golf Canada)

Island golfer helping B.C.’s first Indigenous Golf Championship tee off this spring

Port Alberni golfer takes the helm as tournament chair for May event in Osoyoos

 

The Yukon provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa, Monday July 6, 2020. A Yukon First Nation has declared a state of emergency related to the opioid crisis, calling it an “emergency that is terrorizing the public.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Yukon First Nation declares state of emergency over opioids ‘terrorizing’ community

Declaration comes after a double homicide on Saturday of two Whitehorse men in remote town of Mayo

The Yukon provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa, Monday July 6, 2020. A Yukon First Nation has declared a state of emergency related to the opioid crisis, calling it an “emergency that is terrorizing the public.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Dale Culver was 35 years old and had a newborn daughter in July 2017, when he died after being pepper-sprayed and arrested by Prince George Mounties. Two of those officers are now charged with manslaughter, while another three are charged with obstruction of justice. (Photo courtesy of British Columbia Civil Liberties Association )

Family calls for change ahead of trial for B.C. cops accused of killing Indigenous man

Dale Culver died in Prince George in 2017 after police pepper-sprayed and arrested him

Dale Culver was 35 years old and had a newborn daughter in July 2017, when he died after being pepper-sprayed and arrested by Prince George Mounties. Two of those officers are now charged with manslaughter, while another three are charged with obstruction of justice. (Photo courtesy of British Columbia Civil Liberties Association )
Last June, the Tahltan Nation, the province of B.C. and Vancouver-based Skeena Resources reached a historic consent-based agreement that made the Eskay Creek gold and silver mine, shown in this undated handout, the first project to have permits authorized by a First Nation government. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Skeena Resources

Resource firms move ahead with UNDRIP compliance as B.C. legal changes lag

Declaration calls for free, prior and informed consent from Indigenous communities

Last June, the Tahltan Nation, the province of B.C. and Vancouver-based Skeena Resources reached a historic consent-based agreement that made the Eskay Creek gold and silver mine, shown in this undated handout, the first project to have permits authorized by a First Nation government. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Skeena Resources
Patricia Barkaskas, strategic advisor to the dean for the National Centre for Indigenous Laws, speaks at the site of the future National Centre for Indigenous Laws building at the University of Victoria Thursday (March 9). (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Construction underway in B.C. for Canada’s first National Centre for Indigenous Laws

University of Victoria facility to host degrees in Canadian Common Law, Indigenous legal orders

Patricia Barkaskas, strategic advisor to the dean for the National Centre for Indigenous Laws, speaks at the site of the future National Centre for Indigenous Laws building at the University of Victoria Thursday (March 9). (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
A rock with the message “Every Child Matters” painted on it sits at a memorial outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, in Kamloops, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. A Federal Court judge has approved a $2.8 billion settlement agreement between the Canadian government and plaintiffs representing 325 First Nations whose members went to residential day schools. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Federal Court approves ‘historic’ $2.8 billion residential day schools settlement

Court needed to sign off on deal federal government originally reached with plaintiffs in January

A rock with the message “Every Child Matters” painted on it sits at a memorial outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, in Kamloops, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. A Federal Court judge has approved a $2.8 billion settlement agreement between the Canadian government and plaintiffs representing 325 First Nations whose members went to residential day schools. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond listens during a news conference after releasing a joint report with the B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner about cyberbullying, in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday November 13, 2015. Another award has been stripped from Turpel-Lafond, the former judge, law professor and British Columbia representative for children and youth whose claims of Indigenous ancestry have been discredited. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond speaks out after award revoked over heritage claims

‘Trial by media is rampant, can be unbalanced and cause harm’

B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond listens during a news conference after releasing a joint report with the B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner about cyberbullying, in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday November 13, 2015. Another award has been stripped from Turpel-Lafond, the former judge, law professor and British Columbia representative for children and youth whose claims of Indigenous ancestry have been discredited. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond listens during a news conference after releasing a joint report with the B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner about cyberbullying, in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday November 13, 2015. Another award has been stripped from Turpel-Lafond, the former judge, law professor and British Columbia representative for children and youth whose claims of Indigenous ancestry have been discredited. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

BC Civil Liberties Association revokes award granted to Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond

Another award has been stripped from Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, the former judge,…

B.C. Representative for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond listens during a news conference after releasing a joint report with the B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner about cyberbullying, in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday November 13, 2015. Another award has been stripped from Turpel-Lafond, the former judge, law professor and British Columbia representative for children and youth whose claims of Indigenous ancestry have been discredited. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A doctor wears a stethoscope around his neck as he tends to patients in his office in Illinois, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. Two University of Calgary researchers weren’t surprised when their survey of Alberta doctors showed biases against Indigenous patients, but they were shocked by some of the comments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jeff Roberson

‘Really worrisome’: Survey suggests some Alberta doctors have anti-Indigenous biases

8% of respondents said they felt unfavourable towards Indigenous patients

A doctor wears a stethoscope around his neck as he tends to patients in his office in Illinois, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. Two University of Calgary researchers weren’t surprised when their survey of Alberta doctors showed biases against Indigenous patients, but they were shocked by some of the comments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jeff Roberson
Members of five Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations — Tseshaht, Hupacasath, Uchucklesaht, Tlaoquiaht and Huu-ay-aht — perform a series of songs and dance in Port Alberni. MIKE YOUDS PHOTO

B.C. women working to keep Indigenous traditions and roles alive

On International Women’s Day, Maamiqsu are guiding the path to the revival of sacred ways

Members of five Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations — Tseshaht, Hupacasath, Uchucklesaht, Tlaoquiaht and Huu-ay-aht — perform a series of songs and dance in Port Alberni. MIKE YOUDS PHOTO
A restricted gun licence holder holds an AR-15 at his home in Langley, B.C. Friday, May 1, 2020. A House of Commons committee studying federal efforts to outlaw assault-style firearms is hearing criticism, as well as some measured support, from Indigenous leaders. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Indigenous leaders stress need for consultation on federal firearms legislation

A House of Commons committee heard criticism, as well as some measured…

A restricted gun licence holder holds an AR-15 at his home in Langley, B.C. Friday, May 1, 2020. A House of Commons committee studying federal efforts to outlaw assault-style firearms is hearing criticism, as well as some measured support, from Indigenous leaders. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Chrissie John (ḥakaƛ) and her partner are committed to teaching their two young children their First Nations language as they grow up. The family is part of an increasing number of First Nations people in B.C. who are working to reclaim their mother tongues. (Submitted photo)

Taking back identity: New learners fight to keep First Nations languages in B.C. alive

Number of fluent speakers declining, but new learners on the rise

Chrissie John (ḥakaƛ) and her partner are committed to teaching their two young children their First Nations language as they grow up. The family is part of an increasing number of First Nations people in B.C. who are working to reclaim their mother tongues. (Submitted photo)
An RCMP officer stands by as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses new Canadians during a citizenship ceremony in Kelowna, B.C., Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. Trudeau says having an Indigenous person serve as the next RCMP commissioner is “an excellent idea.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Trudeau says appointing Indigenous RCMP commissioner is an ‘excellent idea’

Some First Nations leaders urging government to ensure the next top Mountie is Indigenous

An RCMP officer stands by as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses new Canadians during a citizenship ceremony in Kelowna, B.C., Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. Trudeau says having an Indigenous person serve as the next RCMP commissioner is “an excellent idea.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Canadian Coast Guard ship called John P. Tully has been used to bring scientists to the Explorer Seamount, Canada’s largest underwater mountain. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Oceana Canada celebrates commitment to protect B.C. Seamounts

Offshore area 4 times the size of Vancouver Island due to become protected

The Canadian Coast Guard ship called John P. Tully has been used to bring scientists to the Explorer Seamount, Canada’s largest underwater mountain. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Governor General Mary Simon and Yuliya Kovaliv, Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada, right, hold a section of the Ukrainian flag during the ‘Stand in Solidarity with Ukraine’ event marking the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the Flora Footbridge in Ottawa, on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Governor General: Climate change, Indigenous issues transcend boundaries with Russia

Simon: Polar region needs some communication and cooperation between nations

Governor General Mary Simon and Yuliya Kovaliv, Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada, right, hold a section of the Ukrainian flag during the ‘Stand in Solidarity with Ukraine’ event marking the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the Flora Footbridge in Ottawa, on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
The NK’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course presents stunning views of the South Okanagan Valley. (nkmipcanyon.ca)

B.C.’s first Indigenous Golf Championship tees off in South Okanagan

The event, hosted at Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course, will see 128 golfers compete

The NK’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course presents stunning views of the South Okanagan Valley. (nkmipcanyon.ca)
Former Tk’emlups te Secwepemc chief Shane Gottfriedson, left, speaks as hiwus (Chief) Warren Paull, of the Sechelt (shishalh) First Nation, listens during a news conference, in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. Scores of First Nations leaders are voicing their formal support in court for a $2.8-billion settlement agreement to a class-action residential schools lawsuit. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Indigenous chiefs across Canada laud the pending approval of $2.8B settlement deal

B.C. chief says First Nations should decide how to mitigate harms done by residential schools

Former Tk’emlups te Secwepemc chief Shane Gottfriedson, left, speaks as hiwus (Chief) Warren Paull, of the Sechelt (shishalh) First Nation, listens during a news conference, in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. Scores of First Nations leaders are voicing their formal support in court for a $2.8-billion settlement agreement to a class-action residential schools lawsuit. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Survivors’ Flag hangs to honour Indigenous Peoples who were forced to attend residential schools, on the grounds of the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. On Tuesday, Tseshaht First Nation announced the preliminary results of an 18-month research-and-scanning effort to identify those who died at the Alberni Indian Residential School (AIRS), which operated from 1900 to 1973. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. First Nation aims to reclaim narrative from shadows of residential school

Indigenous communities taking steps toward ‘decolonizing the narrative’ around residential schools.

The Survivors’ Flag hangs to honour Indigenous Peoples who were forced to attend residential schools, on the grounds of the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. On Tuesday, Tseshaht First Nation announced the preliminary results of an 18-month research-and-scanning effort to identify those who died at the Alberni Indian Residential School (AIRS), which operated from 1900 to 1973. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito